The upper door was shut again pretty sharply, but that was the only audible expression of opinion with which Miss Fortune favoured them.
"I guess my leather curtains keep off the wind, don't they?" said Mr. Van Brunt.
"Yes, indeed they do," said Ellen; "I don't feel a breath; I am as warm as a toast too warm, almost. How nicely you have fixed me up, Mr. Van Brunt!"
"I thought that 'ere old buffalo had done its work," he said; "but I'll never say anything is good for nothing again. Have you found out where the apples are, yet?"
"Han't Miss Fortune showed you? Well, it's time you'd know. Sam, take that little basket and go fill it at the bin; I guess you know where they be, for I believe you put 'em there."
Sam went into the cellar, and presently returned with the basket nicely filled. He handed it to Ellen.
"Are all these for me?" she said in surprise.
"But I don't like to," said Ellen; "what will Aunt Fortune say?"
"She won't say a word," said Mr. Van Brunt; "and don't you say a word neither, but whenever you want apples, just go to the bin and take 'em. I give you leave. It's right at the end of the far cellar, at the left-hand corner; there are the bins and all sorts of apples in 'em. You've got a pretty variety there, han't you?"
"Oh! all sorts," said Ellen "and what beauties! and I love apples very much red, and yellow, and speckled, and green what a great monster!"
"That's a Swar; that ain't as good as most of the others; those are Seek-no-furthers."
"Seek-no-further!" said Ellen; "what a funny name. It ought to be a mighty good apple. _I_ shall seek no further, at any rate. What is this?"
"That's as good an apple as you've got in the basket; that's a real Orson pippin a very fine kind. I'll fetch you some up from home some day, though, that are better than the best of these."
The pork was all packed; the kettle was lifted off the fire; Mr. Van Brunt was wiping his hands from the salt.
"And now, I suppose I must go," said Ellen, with a little sigh.
"Why, _I_ must go," said he; "so I suppose I may as well let you out of your tent first."
"I have had such a nice time," said Ellen; "I had got so tired of doing nothing up-stairs. I am _very_ much obliged to you, Mr. Van Brunt. But," said she, stopping as she had taken up her basket to go, "aren't you going to put the hams in the pickle?"